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ACT 1st. SCENE 3d.
Dick Solus. Sitting up in the Bed rubbing his Eyes.
IN the name of apostrophe's why all this roar of musketry
at this time of night? The Federalist and Anti-federalists
are at it as sure as fate. ---- But hang it, let them fight on;
for Printers and Printers boys, are the cats of society ----
Their profession will not permit them to take a side -- Mr. Power's
Motto is my creed.
To him enter George with a Candle in his hand.
DICK.
Ah! George I am glad to behold thee, for verily I thought that thou
hadst been slain in the carnage that rages without: I have long known
thy private state opinions, and not finding them by my side when I
just now awaked, I fear'd that thou hadst indiscreetly declared
thyself and taken a decided part.
GEORGE.
Why Dick either a nightmare is upon you or the Devil is in you --- What
do you mean by carnage and decided parts? The guns you hear is the roar of
joy at the commencement of the New-Year; and all the decision that I
am privy to, is, that I am decided in my own mind to be as happy as
ever poor faithful apprentice was thro' every second of this day.
Rouse, child rouse! The candles have been lighted this hour and more in the Store
over the way; from which, the delicious beveridge of the day has meandered to every part
of this metropolis already.
DICK.
xx If that eternal Pendulum, George, your tongue is to vibrate as expeditously
thro' the whole of Eighty-Eight as it does at its birth --- --- My precious colleague! whatever
other gifts may have been denied you, that of utterance most assuredly has not. Pray
what has your Typographicalship been about at this unseasonable hour?
GEORGE.
I have been folding and preparing our New-Year's address; and know, to your everlasting
disgrace, that I have finished them already; and mean to deduct from the gleanings of this
only day of harvest in the Year, a decent per cent. more than my moiety, for my work of
superoragation. --- Dick, a thought has struck me! Who knows, but that some future legislature
may become acquainted with this my alertness, and make me State Printer?
DICK.
Aye George, when the day arrives that rewards and desert go hand in hand, I believe you must
be elevated -- But before you wax too important to be spoken to, sit down on the bedside
and let me hear whether you have printed correctly or no; for I fear your mind has been too intent
on your surplus Pay to pay proper attention to your manuscript: You can omit all the
preface for that I attended to myself; Begin at "And now our good patrons."
GEORGE Reads.
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